Focus on nervy Neymar

London, Nov. 13: It is with a raincloud hovering above the head of their talisman Neymar that Brazil are gearing up for their final assignment of 2017 against England at Wembley on Tuesday.

Though Neymar has scored 11 goals in 12 games since his world- record move to Paris SaintGermain from Barcelona, recent weeks have yielded stories of rifts with his teammates and disagreements with coach Unai Emery.

He cut a fragile figure in the press conference that followed Brazil’s 3- 1 win over Japan in a friendly in Lille on Friday, wiping away tears as national coach Tite spoke out in his defence and then hurriedly leaving the room.

“When you are an idol, an example in the eyes of so many people, you have to be perfect and very often I am not,” Neymar said before his abrupt departure.

“I am a young man of 25 with a lot to learn in football,” he added.

Neymar has generally dazzled in Ligue 1 since completing his 222 million euros ($ 259 million) transfer from Barcelona, but his recent performances have betrayed signs of unease.

He was sent off in PSG’s 2- 2 draw at Marseille after being shown a second yellow card for reacting angrily to a foul by Lucas Ocampos. Although he scored ( and squandered a penalty) against Japan, he was also booked for cuffing Hiroki Sakai — who, coincidentally, plays for Marseille — on the back of the head. — AFP